Sue Spitulnik

Growing Pains

The ten-year-old girl got off the school bus with tears in her eyes. She went to her mother in the house, “My friend Toby has been mean to me lately. And he’s started swearing a lot. Why would he do that?”

“Isn’t he the oldest of his siblings, and their father left them?”

“Yeah. So.”

“I would guess that’s a mask of bravado because he hasn’t figured out how to be ‘the man of the house’ and still be a kid. He’s trying to be tough.”

“Oh, I guess I understand, but I liked him better before he changed.”

Written in response to Charli Mills February 13, 2024, prompt at Carrot Ranch Literary: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about an intolerable mask. Who is wearing the mask and why? What is so intolerable about the mask? Is there empathy for the one behind the mask? Go where the prompt leads!

02/19/2024 0

Reconnecting With My Tribe – memoir

I spent twenty years away from my place of birth. Seven years as a military wife and thirteen more working among active duty military, veterans, and their families. I returned home to reconnect with family and friends, and instead of feeling a part of the group, I felt like an interloper trying to wheedle my way in. It was work.

Fifteen years later, I attended a veterans writing group on a research mission. Within minutes, I felt I was back among my tribe. I was an immediate integral part. The military brotherhood is a bonded group stronger than family.

Note; I’m sorry I couldn’t include “and Sisterhood” due to word count restriction.

Written in response to Charli Mills February 6, 2024, prompt at Carrot Ranch Literary: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about something lost now found. Is it an object or person who is lost? How are they lost? What happens when what was lost is found? Go where the prompt leads!

02/12/2024 7

Culture Shock

When he arrived, the eleven-year-old visitor stared at his new surroundings with trepidation and awe. Being raised in the New York City projects, he had only seen pictures of a modern log house surrounded by grass, fields, and a pond with a zip line. He never dreamed he would get to stay in such a place until he learned about the Fresh Air program.

The first two days of his visit he barely spoke because he was overwhelmed by the differences, but by the end of the two weeks, he was “family” being invited to return the following year.

Written in response to Charli Mills January 23, 2024, prompt at Carrot Ranch Literary: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about a fish out of water. What is the source of the tension? The characters, the action, the setting? Or, is it literally a story about fish, real or metaphorical? Go where the prompt leads!

01/29/2024 3

Snow Covered Roads

The woman with three sons made the white knuckle drive to the ski resort. “I wish your hobby didn’t take us out in wrecker weather.”

“Mom, we always make it to the slopes with no problem. If you’d relax, it wouldn’t seem so difficult a drive. You knew the first time Dad brought us this might be a thing.”

“I remember. You don’t have to remind me.”

“Besides, you’ve never experienced the serenity when the snow falls while you command the hill. You really need to try it with us.”

“Thanks all the same. I’ll wait in the lodge.”

Written in response to Charli Mills January 16, 2024, prompt at Carrot Ranch Literary In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that unfolds during wrecking weather. You can set the story anywhere and use any genre. Who are your wreckers? Your targets? Your merchants? Are there difficulties to overcome the weather? Go where the prompt leads!

01/22/2024 8

Recognize the Parallel

A girl in her late teens screams at her mother, “You mean I have to be in this cast for three months.”

“Who wrecked the car? Deal with it.”

“Is my car all right? I don’t remember.”

“No. It’s going to take months to get the parts to fix it.”

***

Two months later, the girl pouts. “This recovery is getting to me. I don’t know if I can do it.”

Her mother is sympathetic. “I know, honey. It’s wearing on me too. But I promise, on the other side, there is much catching up to look forward to.”

Written in response to Charli Mills January 9, 2024, prompt at Carrot Ranch Literary: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a recovery story. What instigated the recovery? What is being recovered? Data, athletes, illness — expand the idea of recovery and find your story. Go where the prompt leads!

01/15/2024 7

One Person’s Opinion

Age 10 — Mom’s red geraniums don’t smell sweet like a flower should. I don’t like them.

Age 20 — When I see a red geranium I remember my mother. She liked their bold color.

Age 45 to present — I live close to the cemetery where my folks rest. I pot red geraniums near their headstone each spring, and they survive the summer no matter the weather, with no care.

Age 68 to present — I plant red geraniums at home so I can enjoy the memories.

After I pass, I hope my children plant them for me.

Note: This week, we were experimenting with how many ways we could write red. Thus, multiple micro flashes go in different directions.

Written in response to Charli Mills January 2, 2024, prompt at Carrot Ranch Literary: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story using the color red. It can be a descriptor, a setting, a character, or a metaphor. How far can you get in a story by expanding “red”? Go where the prompt leads!

01/07/2024 12